Australian junior tennis standout Joey Swaysland will join the Longhorns in January of 2012.

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas head coach Michael Center announced Friday the addition of Australian standout Joey Swaysland to the Longhorns’ men’s tennis roster for the upcoming season. Swaysland (Wagga Wagga, Australia) has signed an athletic scholarship agreement (ASA) and will join the Longhorns in January of 2012 in advance of the Longhorns’ dual-match season.

“Joey has a big serve and a really good all-court game,” Center said. “He can play singles and doubles, and he will impact our lineup this season.”

Swaysland, a member of Australia’s victorious Junior Davis Cup team in 2009, has been ranked as high as No. 1423 in the ATP world singles rankings and No. 1291 in the ATP world doubles rankings. Swaysland competed at the Australian Open Junior Championships and reached the round of 32 in 2010 and 2011. Swaysland also won the under-14 World Cup competition and was a doubles champion at the 17th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup in Malaysia. Swaysland earned an ATP point last year when he defeated countryman Nima Roshon, who was ranked 557th in the world at the time.

“Joey has been part of the Australian Institute of Sport program, which selects the top players in Australia,” Center added. “He is a great kid and a team player. Joey will be a big part of our future at Texas.”

Swaysland will join a class of Texas newcomers that includes Jacob Lewis (Odenville, Ala.) and Soren Hess-Olesen (Billund, Denmark).